The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1600, 12 November 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1881.

We have received from Mr H. It. Rae, the County Council Secretary, a long letter explaining how it is that, many, electors' names appear on the county I'oll more than once. The question has been repeatedly asked whether such persons can have ballot papers supplied to them and vote according to as many times as their names appear on the 1011. We regret that our space will not allow us to insert the whole of Mr Ttae's letter, but we give the County Solicitor's unqualified opinion on the subject, which had been asked for by Mr Seddon (the County Chairman), at the request of some of the county electors : To R. J. Seddon, Esq., County Chairman. Sir—ln reply to your query, respecting the voting qualification at the ensuing County Council election, I have to state that no elector can vote more than once, no matter whether his name be on the roll once or fifty times. This question is so free from doubt or argument, that I wonder it has been put. W. Morton Puukiss, County Solicitor. Hokitika, 11th November, 1881. The only persons on the rolls entitled to more than one vote are the persons specified in the newly-priuted rolls as being entitled to two or more votes in respect of rateable property ; but such persons are not allowed an additional vote on account of any miners' right or rights they may hold. The nomination day for the general election for the return of one qualified person to serve as a Member for the electoral district of Kumara in the House of'Representatives has now been fixed for Thursday (not Tuesday, as stated on authority yesterday), the Ist day of December. The polling day will be on Friday, the 9th prox. The names of the polling places are given in another column, under the hand of W. A. Barton, Esq., Greymouth, Returning Officer for the Kumara Electoral District. Jurors summoned to appear at the District Court, Hokitika, on Monday next, are officially informed in another column that their attendance will not be required. The East Coast mails, also mails by the s.s. Rotomahana from Australia, arrived per coach from Christchurch this afternoon, at 3.5 o'clock. Mr Rngg's coach, also from Springfield railway terminus, arrived at about the same time. Mr J. F. Byrne addressed a large meeting of electors at Reynolds' Hotel, Dillman's Town, last evening, probably about 200 persons being present. Mr James Holmes followed, in a short speech. Votes of confidence and fitness to represent this riding in the County Council were passed. Reports will appear on Monday. Mr P. Dungan addressed the electors of Fox's on Thursday evening, and Callaghan's on Friday evening, and was well received at both places. During the last twenty-four hours an alarm has spread that diphtheria had appeared in an aggravated form in Kumara. The bare facts of the case appear to be these : —A child of a person named Setrina, living on the Shallow Lead track, was attacked with some disease, the symptoms of which led to a suspicion that it was diphtheria. The case being reported to the authorities, a thorough inquiry was made, and a meeting of the

Board of Health was held this afternoon. After personal examination of the premises, it was resolved that the opinion of Dr. Rossetti be taken on the case. It may bo mentioned that a second child of Setrina's is attacked to-day, with diphtheria symptoms, but as there is a difference of opinion, it may be well to withhold comment until further evidence is forthcoming. A third case is also reported. Mr M'Whirter will address the electors at Reynolds' Empire Hotel, Dillman's Town, this evening, at 8 o'clock. On Monday he will address the electors at Goodwin's Hotel, Waimea. ; and Mr James Holmes, after he has addressed the Stafford electors, will speak after Mr M'Whirter, at Goldsborough. Mr Linnell also holds forth at Waimea on Monday, at the Helvetia Hotel. Mr J. F. Byrne is announced at the Theatre Royal, Kumara, on Monday, at 8 p.m. Mr Henry Munro will also address the electors at Dillman's on Monday or Tuesday. The Returning Officer announces elsewhere that the annual election of Mayor for the Borough of Kumara will be held on Wednesday, the 30th day of November, 1881 ; and that Saturday, the 19th inst., will be the day for the nomination of candidates for that important office. As yet only one duly-qualified person appears to be coming forward, and that is the present Mayor (J. O'Hagan, Esq.). Two others have been mentioned, but one refuses and the other is not on the roll. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before J. O'Hagan, Esq., J.P., J. Slattery was charged with allowing two goats, his property, to wander at large in the streets of the town, contrary to the provisions of the bye-laws of the Municipal Council. A fine of Is was inflicted, the Bench remarking that in the event of a second offence, a heavy penalty would be imposed.—Mary Phelan, charged with a simitar offence was also fined Is, and a caution was administered as to future cases of the same kind. There was a meeting of Central Board of Education at Grey mouth on Thursday evening last, but nothing pertaining to this district transpired more than what was announced in these columns yesterday. The Kumara Minstrels, who are preparing for a farewell benefit to Mr Tom Muirhead, are requested to rehearse at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening, at nine o'clock.